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A friend who lives overseas emailed to ask if I was familiar with this brand. There is relatively little information on the internet. The Blue Book gives an interesting and quite positive blurb about the manufacturing process. The brand is Polish and there is some unclear relationship to Seiler. I am guessing the pianos are not marketed in the US. But I am wondering if any PW reader might have first hand knowledge.My friend thought the (upright) piano sounded very good.

This factory was originally the Seiler factory before WWII. For a while, they were marketed in the USA as TH. Betting. Then, Bechstein had them make the Europa piano for the Bechstein Gruppe. The factory no longer produces instruments under their label and is allegedly owned by Mr. Vogel (son in-law of Schimmel).

Legnica is the name of the town where the factory was (and still is?). These Th. Betting pianos were decent instruments with Renner action, the Legnica definitely not! I don´t think that they sound good, but when your friend likes it, it should suit his needs. I tuned a lot of them and I never thought that they are well sounding or well made.

Thanks Gregor.Steven, you are right. In french, words with a root origin of "ligni" relate to wood. Also lignieux refers to fibers/roots in a forest. Since it is similar in Spanish, there must be a latin root.. What is 'wood" in latin?

Hmm. As all-around musicians should we not all be aware of the reasonable common Italian musical direction col legno[1] ("with the wood") meaning that a string player should turn his/her bow around and tap the wooden part against the strings[2]?

(wanders off muttering to self...)

Michael B.[1] Or occasionally col legno battuto[2] Also the name of a recording label for contemporary classical music.

There are two rules to success in life: Rule #1. Don't tell people everything you know.

I came pretty close, didn't I? I just could not risk extrapolating to the latin root..By the time I hit high school, they had done away with most of the latin requirements, the school's jesuits non withstanding.. (it is true though they would not be happy with me if they find out )

it 's funny, but when I see your avatar, despite the ample information I now know about it, my brain reads it as (the now ?defunct )Benelux..